The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-05-12

The Hon. Roger @. Mills, for the COM
mittee on platform, presented the follow
ing report to the convention, of which
Hon. D. G. Giddings was chairman, and 1t
was unanimously adopted:
PLATFORM
First-We oppose the pending prohibition amend
ment because it is proposition to change our
form of government from free republic OF SOW
ereign and independent citizens TO a species OF
paternaism hateful TO our people ~ wini .ahe
from the citizen his most sacred and inalenaole
rights and add to and augment the powers OF gov
eminent, and is therefore undemocratlc and anu
republican. -. ,o,,,.o :.
is sumptuary and will vex the citizens and inter-
fere WA individual liberty
Third-We oppose this amendment because u ls
at war with the fundamental principles OF Anglo
saxon civilization, and will destroy that inalien.
able right of the citizen to determine for himself
how he shall pursue his own happiness without IN
reference with the rights of others, which prln
ciple is the basis of our liberties and the sole nope
for perpetuity of our institutions. ,
Fourth-We oppose this amendment because It's
enforcement will entail upon the government the ne
cessity of promoting a system OF spies and INFORM
detestable to our people, ana tne
and under the sanction of which our homes may Dt
searched, our property seized and our deares
rights invaded. Texas cannot hope to escape thes
curses, which have invariably attended similar eA
periments in other states.
Fifth-Its adoption will suppress the general u.s.
of milder stimulants and encourage the use Oh th'
strong drinks, and thus retard the ADVANCEMENT
genuine temperance. 1t Will stamp as crlml ma
the manufacture of wines from our domesu
grapes for family purposes and will degrade GU
drug stores into dram shops, and elevate our doc
tors into autocrats of our appetite.
Sixth-It will enable the rich TO import and US
| their liquors without taxation or restraint, an
| will prohibit only those of our people who are t
poor to buy their liquors in unbroken packages
| and under its operation the saloon will give plac
70 The qlded club room for the rich while the poo
will be forced to make their purchases at 10y
| dives and in violation of law Such class legisla
| tion is odious to our people and contrary to FREE
| government. , -.
Seventh--It.propose by the preponderance of
majority in certain sections of the state to taste
by force on other sections theory OF moral an
| social conduct and habits dlslateful an
interests of the sections in our stat
have been prolific source OF care and thoHg1t u
our craftsmanship, and this amendment II ADOPT
ed, will engender hostile puonc rehtlh Il ~, y
certain localities fatal to its enforcement, and thu
| beget dsrespeCt for law and disregard OF consul
tutional authority, and will produce lasting an
permanent evil to our people and tend 10 dlsrup
the state. -, ao,.uo,
without condensation, large property interests 0
onr people. 1t will unsette bushes
and impair property values oo paTa aIcis
period at and least sssroI the srea ndustFe
already in operation for the manufacture of tn
milder stimulants. 1t will abolish the source 9
our public revenues fully onethird, ana lncreas
to corresponding amount the burden upon lanc
and the necessaries of life, already overburdene
with the eXgctions of government.
Ninth-The Jealous adherents OF this prohloiuu
idea have already established and organized UNI
political party, and have waged relentless Wartal
upon the principles and organizations OF the othe
established .parties; instigated by foreign emil
saries they have, by agitation for years. secure
Iron the legislature of our state the concession
this proposition to change our organic law, az
by studied purpose and concerted movement tn
now seek to stihe political expressions from o.
people until their political designs fully accor
plished. We warn our people of this threaten.
danger, and call upon them to Iebuke at the pol
this sinister conspiracy against their political
CARNATIONS and the fundamental principles
American liberty.
; Signed by all the committee.